10Ants Hill – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

March 29, 2019

Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR Confirmed for Oculus Quest Launch

This week has seen a deluge of videogames being confirmed for the launch of Oculus Quest this Spring, with Oculus releasing a video highlighting a few new ones, and then several developers making their announcements. Well, VRFocus has another to add to that ever-growing list, and that’s Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR.

Pixel Edge Games confirmed that Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR would be an Oculus Quest launch title in an email to VRFocus, further bolstering the videogame roster whilst adding another sporting experience alongside Eleven Table Tennis. While the studio has confirmed upcoming support it has to specify if the Oculus Quest version will include any new features.

Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR launched just over a year ago in 2017, initially for HTC Vive before expanding support to include Oculus Rift, Oculus Go and PlayStation VR. Earlier this month the team released a major update, adding cross-platform support between Rift and Vive headsets for the first time – multiplayer did exist just not cross-platform. So hopefully that might mean that the Oculus Quest version could include the same functionality on launch day.

Oculus Go isn’t cross-platform compatible but it does feature a range of new features including serving and a new practice mode.

When VRFocus reviewed Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR on the PlayStation VR in October, we gave it a modest three stars, saying: “Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR is a good table tennis simulator with great physics and a pleasant backdrop, but the lack of multiplayer and strange absence of music leave holes in what would otherwise be a very satisfying title.” With improvements like the addition of cross-platform support, some of those issues are now being addressed.

There’s still no specific release date for Oculus Quest, with the company still sticking to ‘Spring 2019’. Well over 20 titles have now been confirmed for launch day, with the likes of Superhot VR, Vacation Simulator, Creed: Rise to Glory, Space Pirate Trainer, Dance Central, Robo Recall, Moss, Beat Saber, The Climb, and Dead & Buried II making the list. As more videogames are revealed for the standalone headset, VRFocus will keep you updated.

March 9, 2019

Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR Adds Cross-Platform Multiplayer

Pixel Edge Games released Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR just over a year ago in 2017 for HTC Vive, and in that time has expanded support to include Oculus Rift, Oculus Go and PlayStation VR. This week the studio announced its biggest update yet for the title, adding cross-platform gameplay for PC players.

While the PC version has always supported online multiplayer that feature has always been between the same headsets. Now Oculus Rift and HTC Vive users can go head to head. The PC version also includes friends support, a day and night version, voice chat support plus improvements to SteamVR.

As for the Oculus Go version, that now includes multiplayer for the first time (not cross-platform), plus the day/night mode, and a new practice mode. The main addition, however, is the inclusion of serving for the first time – no small feat when you consider the controller is purely 3DoF – bringing the mobile version even closer to the PC edition.

And for those of you who own the PlayStation VR version don’t fret. While there’s no update just yet, Pixel Edge Games has confirmed to VRFocus that the new 2.0 update will be arriving soon for the headset. When we have a date we’ll let you know.

VRFocus reviewed the PlayStation VR version at launch in October, giving it three stars, saying: “Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR is a good table tennis simulator with great physics and a pleasant backdrop, but the lack of multiplayer and strange absence of music leave holes in what would otherwise be a very satisfying title.” So the update should improve the title a whole lot further.

Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR can be purchased through Steam for £15.49 GBP, while the PlayStation VR version is currently on sale with 57 percent off, retailing for £7.99 instead of £18.99. For further updates, keep reading VRFocus.

October 5, 2018

Review: Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR

It has become oddly popular in modern offices to have a table tennis table in the break room. If you are not fortunate enough to work in a suitably trendy office building, then there is always a virtual reality (VR) alternative. In this case, Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR has made its way from PC-based VR to the PlayStation VR.

The premise in the title crafted by developer 10Ants Hill is that table tennis has survived into the far future where robots battle it out on spaceships for the grand prize of the Intergalactic Ping Pong Championship.

Racket Fury - PSVR

The PlayStation VR version comes with two modes, practice and championship mode. The multiplayer mode which can be found in the PC VR version is not yet available, but is planned to be patched in during a future update.

Practice mode is just what it sounds like, you can practice your swings and get used to how the tracking for the PlayStation Move controls work. Though the tracking for the PlayStation Move can sometimes be wobbly, here it works incredibly smoothly. Pleasingly, there is even an option for left-handed play, which is great for those of a southpaw persuasion.

Championship mode is clearly the main draw here. The aim is to win the most sets, which can be done by scoring the most points or getting two of the three sets. There are four ‘Cups’ available, which as you would expect, get progressively harder. There is a noticeable spike in difficulty around the start of cup three.

The physics are dead-on, it very rarely seems like anything is wonky in terms of angles, movement or weight. It all feels very realistic. The graphics are decent for the most part, the robot opponents look pretty cool, and the space backgrounds are quite nice to look at.

Racket Fury - PSVR

While there is sound that reproduces the whack and bounce of the paddles and ball, there is no other music to speak of, which is disappointing and makes it feel oddly empty. This is probably due to reduce distractions, but still seems odd.

As you play you can level up and get access to various different bits you can use to customise your avatar, which is a nice touch, but since you don’t see your avatar much, its a a bit of fluff.

The lack of multiplayer feels like a critical flaw, though it is planned to be included later, its lack now makes it feel unfinished.

Overall, Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR is a good table tennis simulator with great physics and a pleasant backdrop, but the lack of multiplayer and strange absence of music leave holes in what would otherwise be a very satisfying title. This is one of enthusiasts, though once the multiplayer comes out, it might be worth a second luck.

60%

Awesome

Verdict

March 14, 2018

Enjoy Sport on the Go When Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR Hits Gear VR

If you’re a fan of the frantic sport of table tennis then 10Ants Hill Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift is one title you should check out. Yet the studio wants to bring the videogame to even more players, announcing that a version for Samsung Gear VR is on the way.

Racket Fury GearVR screenshot1

Usually developers tend to port Gear VR titles over to PC-based virtual reality (VR) headsets, affording them greater graphical quality and processing power to try new things. Instead 10Ant Hill has gone the other way, looking to preserve its physics-based gameplay whilst cutting back on the visual fluff like background arenas.

Significant time was spent by the team tweaking the videogame to make the best use out of the Gear VR Controller, and its 3DoF movement. Even though Gear VR does not have positional tracking, thanks to the arm model the studio was able to create a positional tracking sensation enabling the player to fully enjoy the experience without restrictions. “We are proud that we have found a solution to give the users the full control over the shots, just like in real life. At the same time, we can assure that the game is extremely fun, challenging, and intense!” said Sebastian Boczek, CEO of 10Ants Hill in a statement.

Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR offers a single-player campaign with four Cups to play through, each of which will bring players a variety of challenging experiences. With advanced Artificial Intelligence in single-player, each of the 16 opponents have their own temper and unique style of play. So players will have to think on their feet and adjust their strategy with each new opponent they face. For the mobile version the online multiplayer of the original has been removed.

Racket Fury GearVR screenshot2

Check out the teams work in the gameplay video below. Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR for Gear VR will be available on 15th March, priced at $9.99 USD. For any further updates from 10Ants Hill, keep reading VRFocus.

October 19, 2017

Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR Update Adds Arcade mode, Practice mode and More

Currently in Steam Early Access is developer 10Ants Hill sporting title Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR for HTC Vive. Since its launch in July the videogame has seen several updates released with the latest being the biggest yet.

The new update adds a range of features to the table tennis experience, with the main addition being an Arcade mode. Up until now Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR has been focused on a more real-life table tennis experience (with robots), with accurate in-game physics. Arcade mode relaxes this simulator style, looking towards speed and tactics rather than skill.

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Then there’s Practice Mode Pro which enables a player to enhance their skills and become stronger with every match, being able to alter loads of stats to make your opponent harder.

To mix up the visual aesthetic of matches so you’re not always playing in the same area 10Ants Hill has added new scenery, and removed the gaps between the point and serve so matches can continue quicker. Plus there’s also Chinese localisation.

Racket Fury:Table Tennis VR features a range of single-player and multiplayer modes. Solo there are four cups to play through, pitting your skills against 16 AI opponents. While multiplayer is your classic one-on-one match of table tennis with players from around the world.

Check out VRFocus’ preview of Racket Fury:Table Tennis VR, and keep coming back for further updates.

September 14, 2017

Preview: Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR – Ping-Pong Mayhem

Virtual reality (VR) allows the minds of creative studios to go wild, producing surreal, fantastical worlds for players to explore. Sometimes though, it’s the simple ideas that can work just as well, recreating real-world scenarios with a bit of artistic flair for good measure. Enter Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR, a ping-pong simulator with a futuristic aesthetic.

Table tennis doesn’t tend to be one of those sports that garners a lot of press like football, rugby or American football for example, but it does work very well in videogames and as Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR demonstrates, it’s a sport that perfectly suits VR.

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While the title features robots as characters developer 10Ants Hill hasn’t gone for a no holds barred arcade experience with crazy power-ups or over the top physics. Instead the studio has kept Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR as a realistic ping-pong simulator – physics wise – meaning that winning matches comes down to your own skill and tactical play. And for a videogame of this type it’s reassuring to see that the ball does behave as it should.

There’s an option to turn effects like spin off but to truly make use of Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR’s physics that really should be kept on. This allows far more nuanced play, so when a rally really starts to get going you do need to be focused on the task at hand.

For this preview VRFocus only played the single-player championship against AI robots. Each of the four arenas has four bots to beat and they certainly don’t make it easy, even the early ones. So there’s a practice mode available which certainly helps in getting a feel for the videogame, gauging those serves, shot power, backhand returns et al.

Racket Fury screenshot

Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR is one of those titles where each player has to find their own groove, so there are plenty of customisation options to choose from. You can swap how the bat is held in your robotic hand – which doesn’t sound like much of an option as you’ll still hold the controller the same way but it does have an effect – alter the height, placement and angle of the table to suit your requirements plus several other tweaks.

For a recently released early access videogame Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR already features plenty of polish and refinement. Single-player matches are great fun and highly challenging, so hopefully the multiplayer follows suit (as long as there are players which can be an issue in VR). Whether you’re a table tennis fanatic or not, 10Ants Hill has created an experience that’s already up there with some of the best for HTC Vive, so VRFocus will be watching its continued development closely.

July 19, 2017

‘Racket Fury’ Bringing Amped-up VR Ping Pong to Early Access This Week

Table tennis is becoming an increasingly crowded area in the world of VR sport, and Racket Fury aims to differentiate itself with a blend of futuristic visuals, unique robot AI personalities, and detailed physics. The game has been in closed beta since July 6th, and is due to launch on Steam Early Access on July 21st.

The likes of Virtual Sports, VR Ping Pong, and Eleven: Table Tennis VR have capitalised on the close correlation between the light rackets and balls used in real table tennis and the feel and feedback of modern VR motion controllers, but a new entrant is hoping there’s room for improvement, particularly in terms of style and content. Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR from independent developer 10Ants Hill is one to watch, as it appears to be heading towards a fully-featured, well-polished addition to the world of ping pong VR.

Thanks to the hint of sci-fi backstory on the game’s Steam page, we know that the action takes place in the ‘Crown Galaxy’, a place inhabited by the ‘Zen’ robot, who introduced the ‘Racket Fury Tournament’ to maintain the peace. In the single player campaign, you assume the role of a Zen, challenged to face the ‘Division of Steel’, a prestigious team of robots that have dominated the competition. The four main robot types, which increase in difficulty, have been detailed on the Racket Fury twitter account. The developers claim that the advanced opponent AI means that each robot “has their own temper and an utterly unique style of play.”

Currently, the game features 16 opponents, quick-match online multiplayer, 3 arenas, and a ‘workshop’ for character upgrades; the final game promises to double the opponent count, increase the number of environments and upgrade items, and add a ranked multiplayer and event system. Originally due to hit Early Access in April, the team say that the additional three months of development has resulted in “a huge leap” in quality, listing some of the recent changes to the beta on the Steam News page.

The recent alpha footage shows a slick interface and impressive visuals, along with some convincing physics and motion-captured opponent animations. The rather awkward and repetitive commentary is jarring, but it can be disabled and the developer says this will be improved for the full release. 10Ants Hill have answered several other concerns in the YouTube comments, saying that the special effects on the ball can also be disabled, and that there are “no assists” affecting the flight of the ball and the physics are “100% pure simulation”. They also confirmed that they are aiming for a PSVR release in the future.

The post ‘Racket Fury’ Bringing Amped-up VR Ping Pong to Early Access This Week appeared first on Road to VR.

July 3, 2017

Watch The First Real Gameplay Footage For Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR

At this point if you’ve had a VR headset for any length of time then I’d be willing to bet that you’ve played tennis, table tennis, ping pong, or something very similar on your fancy piece of futuristic hardware. There is something oddly satisfying and mesmerizing about whacking a virtual ball with a virtual racket you control by swinging your actual hand. It’s a big reason why the Nintendo Wii and Wii Sports were so popular for years.

Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR then is what you get when you take the underlying premise of playing table tennis in VR, but add on a futuristic flare, robotic avatars, and tons of style. It’s the more intense answer to Vive Studios’ Virtual Sports (formerly known as VR Sports). You can see actual gameplay right here:

Originally the developers, 10Ants Hill (formerly Cmoar Studio,) had planned on releasing Racket Fury in April onto Steam Early Access but that didn’t work out. Instead, the game is currently slated to drop on July 20th this month. However, you can sign up for the Closed Beta on the website right now as well.

Check out more bits of the game in these screenshots:

Let us know what you think of Racket Fury and VR table tennis games in general down in the comments below!

Tagged with: 10ants hill, ping pong, racket fury, table tennis

July 1, 2017

Racket Fury:Table Tennis VR Receives new Launch Date and Trailer

Back in March this year Polish Studio 10Ants Hill announced its first virtual reality (VR) title Racket Fury:Table Tennis, with a launch date the following month. In the end that never happened, but today the studio has now confirmed a new release date alongside its first gameplay trailer.

In an email to VRFocus explained the delay saying: “In spite of our best intentions, we didn’t manage to release Early Access in April. It required more time to work on the physics, which is pretty unique, as it’s been based on scientific research and developed from scratch by our studio. We actually believe this delay acts for our benefit because we came up with truly realistic physics that translates our moves in the most accurate manner.”

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The new release date has now been scheduled for 20th July and for the first time you can get to see the videogame in action in the video below.

10Ants Hill will be holding a closed beta for Racket Fury:Table Tennis VR beginning on 6th July prior to its early access release on Steam. For those interested in getting to play the videogame first, head to the studio’s website while sign-ups are still open.

Racket Fury:Table Tennis VR is set to feature a range of single-player and multiplayer modes. Solo there are four cups to play through, pitting your skills against 16 AI opponents. While multiplayer is your classic one-on-one match of table tennis with players from around the world.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Racket Fury:Table Tennis VR, reporting back with any further updates.

March 18, 2017

Racket Fury Table Tennis smashes on to HTC Vive

Polish indie videogame studio 10Ants Hill has announced their new virtual reality (VR) table tennis game for the HTC Vive – Racket Fury.

The game has a futuristic sci-fi setting, where robots battle each other for supremacy over a table tennis table. 10Ants Hill used professional table tennis players in order to get motion capture for the animations, aiming to make them as realistic as possible.

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Racket Fury has a single-player campaign that pits the player against 16 progressively more difficult opponents, the developer says each opponent has its own temperament and style of play to make it more interesting. The online multiplayer game mode allows players to go one-on-one against other Racket Fury players from around the world.

10Ants Hill were previously involved in creating Cmoar Cinema, an application for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift that allows VR users to watch videos in a virtual cinema environment. The studio also worked on Cmoar Rollercoaster, the mobile VR rollercoaster simulator.

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The developers anticipate Racket Fury entering Steam Early Access in April 2017 and will be exclusive to HTC Vive. 10Ants Hill hopes that feedback gathered during the Early Access phase will allow them to improve the game and add more gameplay features.

If table tennis is the sport for you and you can’t wait until April for its arrival, 10Ants Hill will be launching a closed beta for Racket Fury, which it encourages HTC Vive users to signup for.

You can watch the first teaser trailer below. VRFocus will bring you further information on Racket Fury and other 10Ants Hill VR titles as we get it.